Die Ärzte – Westerland

Westerland is a song of the German punk rock band Die Ärzte (the doctors) from their 1988 album Das ist nicht die ganze Wahrheit (that is not the entire truth).

Die Ärzte are besides Die Toten Hosen the most successful German punk rock band and managed to grow a dedicated fan base over the past decades.

In order to understand the irony of the song, here is a bit of background. Westerland is an urban districtein Ortsteil of the community of Sylt located on the famous island with the same name. Sylt is one of the places in Germany where the rich and famousdie Reichen und Berühmten come to be among themselves. As the song suggests

Es ist zar etwas teurer, dafür ist man unter sich.
It’s a bit more expensive but at least one is among oneself.

But Sylt is also very popular in the German middle classdie Mittelschicht which makes it of course a place that every punk would detest. When you are in Germany you should take a closer look at the trunkder Kofferraum or bumperdie Stossstange. On many cars you will see a stickerder Aufkleber with the silhouette of Sylt.

Hence a love songein Liebeslied about Westerland from one of the leading punk bands got quite some coverage back in the days and it is still somewhat the unofficial hymn of people who love or hate Sylt.

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